Apparatus for moving a member to a selected position

ABSTRACT

The apparatus is adapted to be used in conjunction with a rotatable member having a plurality of elements therein and is operable to rotate the member to position a selected one of the elements at a station. The apparatus includes a driving means connectable with the member and a plurality of switches each positioned to correspond to a different element for connecting a source of energy with the driving means when moved from an open to a closed state to energize the driving means. Disconnect means is movable with the driving means for engaging and moving said switches back to said open state.

United States Patent Friedman 5] Mar. 7, 1972 [54.] APPARATUS FOR MOVING A MEMBER TO A SELECTED POSITION 21 Appl. No.: 53,136

[52] U.S.Cl. ..3l8/265,318/467 the e'emems at a station The apparatus includes a driving [51] Int. Cl. ..G05b 11/16 58 Field S h 318/467 265 means connectable with the member and a plurality of l 1 o N switches each positioned to correspond to a different element for connecting a source of energy with the driving means when [56] Cited moved from an open to a closed state to energize the driving UNITED STATES PATENTS means. Disconnect means is movable with the driving means for engaging and moving said switches back to said open state. 2,901,615 8/1959 Devendorf ..318/467 X 3,543,123 1 1/ 1970 Cavanagh ..3l8/467 14 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 26 11 10 l "Mum" Primary Examiner-Bemard A. Gilheany Assistant Examiner-W. E. Duncanson, Jr. Attorney-Paul Fields [57] ABSTRACT The apparatus is adapted to be used in conjunction with a rotatable member having a plurality of elements therein and is operable to rotate the member to position a selected one of 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5A

DEV CES CONN ECT NG Patented March 7, 1972 3,648,139

3 Sheats-Sheet .5

APPARATUS FOR MOVING A MEMBER TO A SELECTED POSITION This invention relates generally to an apparatus for moving a member to a selected location and, more particularly, pertains to an apparatus which is operable to move a selected element in a member having a plurality of such elements to a predetermined location.

Many rotatable members are presently available which carry a plurality of elements wherein the elements are moved past a station sequentially. For example, a slide projector presently gaining widespread acceptance by both industry and the home consumer includes a rotatable slide magazine which is supported on the top of the projector. The magazine, which is circular in shape, is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial slots each of which receives a slide. As the magazine rotates, it carries the slides past a projection station. In operation, the slide drops into a projection chamber at the projection station and is shown on a screen. After viewing, the slide is returned to the magazine and the magazine is rotated or stepped so that the next adjacent slide is positioned at the projection station. Thus, a serious drawback inherent in this type of device resides in the fact that the slides must be shown sequentially (i.e., the slides can only be shown in the order in which they are received in the magazine).

Under normal conditions of home viewing, the aforementioned disadvantage does not present any problem. However,

when the projector is used by a lecturer, for example, to illustrate certain random points, the drawback places a severe limitation on the effectiveness of the projector. More specifically, during the course of the talk the lecturer may wish to show the first slide to illustrate a first point and follow this with the th slide to illustrate the next point in his exposition. (This particular situation is manifest in schools and colleges where the lecturer is speaking in response to random questions.) As a result, the audience will have to wait while the projector is stepped through nine slides. It is obvious that if this operation reoccurs more than a few times the audience will shortly begin to lose interest.

Accordingly, it becomes highly desirable to be able to control such rotatable mechanisms of the type described which carry a plurality of elements so that a selected one of the elements may be immediately moved to a station.

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for moving a member to a selected position out of a plurality of different positions.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for quickly moving a member carrying a plurality of elements so that a particular element is located in a desired position.

Another object of the invention resides in the novel details of construction which provide an apparatus of the type described which is compatible for use with existing mechanisms.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus which is economical to fabricate and efficient in operation.

Accordingly, an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is utilized for moving a movable member adapted to be moved through a plurality of different positions to at least a selected one of the positions and comprises driving means for engaging and moving the movable member. A control device is provided which comprises a plurality of connect means, each positioned to correspond to a different one of preselected ones of the plurality of different positions of the movable member and each is operable to be moved from an open to a closed state to connect an energizing source with the driving means to energize the driving means. Disconnect means is providedwhich is movable with said driving means for moving each of the plurality of connect means to the open state whereby the driving means is deenergized.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention in conjunction with a commercial slide projector, with parts broken away in the interest of clarity;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the projector and apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the front with the apparatus shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a partial bottom plan view of the driving disc of the present apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the switching portion of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a modified embodiment of the switching portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 5A is an end view of the operating finger shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a partial schematic wiring diagram of the an paratus;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a modified embodiment of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention utilized in conjunction with a conventional dial telephone;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 mounted on the telephone with the apparatus and a portion of the telephone shown in section; and

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the driving portion of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a modified embodiment of the plate shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 1 1 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of a modified embodiment of connecting device adapted to control the rotation of the plate in either direction; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic wiring diagram of a modified embodiment of the present apparatus.

The present invention is adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a rotatable member which is rotatable through a plurality of positions and, in particular, the invention will be described in conjunction with a projector having a rotatable slide magazine which may be stepped to sequentially move the slides past a projection station. However, it is to be noted that this is by way of illustration only and is not to be interpreted as being a limitation of the present invention. That is, the invention may be utilized with any rotatable member having a plurality of elements therein to selectively position any one of the elements at a desired location.

Accordingly, FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and designated generally by the reference numeral 10 in conjunction with a commercially available projector 12. The projector 12 is of a type which is manufactured by the Eastman Kodak Company of Rochester, New York and is known as the Carousel Projector. The projector 12 includes a circular magazine 14 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots 16 therein. In the commercial embodiment of the magazine 14, slots are provided and each slot receives a different slide. The projector mechanism (not shown) is operable to move the magazine 14 so that the slots 16 of the magazine are successively positioned above a projection station (not shown). The position of the projection station is indicated by an index marker 18 on the bed of the projector. In operation, the particular slide in the slot 16 overlying the projection station falls into a projection chamber and is projected on a screen or the like through a lens 20. Thereafter, the slide is returned to the particular slot 16 and the mechanism steps the magazine 14 one slide so that the next adjacent slide is positioned at the projection station and falls into the projection chamber. Accordingly, each slide must be shown sequentially. At present, if it is desired to show a particular slide and then show a second slide which is not in juxtaposition to the first slide, it is necessary to manually depress a release button 22 and rotate the magazine 14 by hand until the desired second slide is located at the projection station. Thereafter, the button 22 is released and the projector mechanism operates as before to sequentially show the slides in the magazine 14. An alternative method, of course, is to step the magazine by showing the intermediate slides until the desired slide is projected on the screen.

The apparatus 10, on the other hand, is operable to cause rotation of the magazine to immediately position a desired slide at the projection station thereby eliminating the necessity to manually rotate the magam'ne or to project the intermediate slides on the screen, both of which are extremely bothersome and time-consuming methods.

More specifically, the apparatus constructed according to the present invention, includes a control device 24 comprising a housing 26. The housing 26 includes a top wall 28, and depending peripheral walls 30. The housing 26 supports a plurality of connecting devices 32 (FIG. 2) which form a part of the control device 24, as noted in greater detail hereinbelow.

The housing 26 is adapted to be received on the top of the projector 12 with the bottom edges of the walls 30 resting on the top of the projector. One of the walls 30 is provided with an indexing marker 34 which is adapted to be aligned with the marker 18 on the projector 12 so that the apparatus 10 will be correctly aligned when it is mounted on the projector.

Received within the housing 26 is a driving mechanism designated generally by the reference numeral 36. The driving mechanism 36 includes a plate 38 having an upstanding shaft 40 connected to a ball bearing support 42 which, in turn, is connected to the bottom surface of the top wall 28 of the housing. Accordingly, the plate 38 is rotatable with respect to the housing 26. A motor 44 (FIG. 3) is supported within the housing by an appropriate bracket (not shown) and includes an upstanding output shaft 46 which is in driving engagement with the rim of plate 38. Thus, the plate 38 may be rotated under control of the motor 44.

The driving mechanism 36 further includes means for rigidly connecting the disc 38 with the magazine 14 so that rotation of the disc 38 causes concomitant rotation of the magazine. More specifically, a spider 48 is provided having radially extending arms 50. The arms 50 extend through apertures 52 in the shaft 40 with the hub of the spider located within and concentric to the shaft 40. The slots 52 are elongated so that the arms of the spider 50 may move in the manner noted below. Rotatably connected to the end of each of the arms 50 is an operating lever 54. Circumferentially spaced about the disc 38 and pivotally mounted adjacent the rim of the disc are engaging arms 56 having intumed ends 58 which extend below the bottom surface of the disc 38 and are adapted to be moved into engagement with the magazine 14. The operating levers 54 are pivotally connected to the ends of the arms 56 at a point spaced above the top surface of the disc 38. A shaft 60 is rigidly connected with the spider 48 at its lower end and extends upwardly through openings in the shaft and the top wall 28 of the housing 26 and is provided with an operating knob 62 on its upper end. It is to be noted that the driving mechanism 36 is substantially concentrically located within the housing 26.

In operation, the anns 56 operate substantially as an overthe-center toggle arrangement. To be more specific, when the housing 26 is mounted on the projector 12, the knob 62 is rotated so that the spider 48 is rotated in the clockwise position as shown in FIG. 3. This action draws the operating levers 54 inwardly and causes the arms 56 to assume the position shown in FIG. 2. It is to be noted that the elements are sized and positioned so that when the housing is mounted on the projector 12, the disc 38 will be spaced slightly above the magazine 14 and the intumed ends 58 of the arms 56 will not be obstructed by the magazine 14. It is also to be noted that the arms 56 are equally spaced about the disc or plate 38 but that more or less than three such arms, as shown, may be used. After the housing is seated on the projector, the knob 62 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction until the arms 50 engage the opposite ends of the slots 52. This action causes the operating levers 54 to move outwardly thereby pivoting the fingers 56 about their pivotal connection with the plate 38 and causing the ends 58 to move inwardly and engage the magazine 14. The elements are sized so that when the arms 56 are in their magazine-engaging position, the pivotal connection between the operating levers 54 and the arms 56 will be spaced outwardly of the pivotal connection between the arms 56 and the plate 58 so that the whole arrangement will function as an over-the-center toggle and the arms 56 will remain in engagement with the magazine 14 until the knob 62 is rotated in the clockwise position to release the arms from the magazine. Hence, when the motor 44 is energized to rotate .the plate 38, the magazine 14 will similarly rotate.

As noted above, in the illustrative example under consideration, slots 16 which receive a corresponding number of slides are provided in the magazine 14. In order to selectively rotate the magazine 14 so that a desired one of the slides is positioned at the projection station, 80 connecting devices 32 are provided. Of course, if the number of elements carried by the magazine 14 were more or less than 80, a like number of connecting devices 32 would be provided. Moreover, since each of the connecting devices 32 are identical in construction, only one device will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting device 32 includes a pushbutton switch 64 having an enlarged diameter bottom section 66. The section 66 is supported within an enclosure 68 depending from the top wall of the housing 28. The upper portion of the pushbutton 64 is slidably received through an opening 70 in the top wall of the housing 26. A spring 72 biases the pushbutton upwardly so that the enlarged section 66 engages the bottom surface of the wall 28.

An arm 74 is slidably received at one end in a bracket 76 depending from the top wall 28 of the housing 26 and is slidably received in an aperture 78 in the sidewall of the enclosure 68 at the other end. A radially extending flange 80 is fixedly received on the arm 74 adjacent the end supported by the bracket 76 and a spring 82 extends between the flange 80 and the bracket 76. The spring 82 is operable to bias the arm 74 toward the left, as taken in FIG. 4.

Connected to the enclosure 68 by a bracket 84 is a contact 86. The contact 86 is connected to a conducting plate 88 by a lead 90. (It is to be understood that the top wall 28 of the housing 26 is fabricated from an insulating material. If, on the other hand, the top wall 28 is not of an insulating material, then it is understood an appropriate layer of insulating material will separate the plate 88 from the top wall of the housing.) Additionally, a contact 92 is carried by the arm 74 and is connected to a conducting plate 94 by a lead 96. The contact 92 is adapted to engage the contact 86 when the connecting device 32 is operated in the manner indicated below to effectively close a switch and energize the motor 44.

Under nonnal conditions, the button 64 will be in the raised position shown in FIG. 4 wherein the arm 74 abuts the enlarged section 66 of the button. Hence, the contacts 86 and 92 will be spaced from each other. However, when the pushbutton 64 is depressed by the operator, the enlarged section 66 moves downwardly and out of engagement with the end of the arm 74. Accordingly, the spring 82 biases the arm 74 via the flange 80 to the left whereby the arm now moves to the left until the contact 92 engages the contact 86. At this point, the pushbutton 64 may be released and the spring 72 attempts to bias the pushbutton upwardly. However, since the arm 74 has moved to the left, the end of the arm adjacent the enclosure 68 moves into the enclosure and overlies the enlarged section 66 of the pushbutton. Accordingly, movement of the pushbutton to the normal position is thereby prevented.

As noted above, 80 such connecting devices 32 are provided and in practice, the pushbuttons 64 lie in a circle on the top wall 28 of the housing 26. Additionally, the plates 88 and 94 are concentric with each other and form respective closed circles beneath the top wall 28. Additionally, each one of the contacts 86 of each connecting device is connected to the plate 88 and each one of the contacts 92 of each connecting device is connected to the plate 94.

The arm 74 further includes a depending member 98. The member 98 is adapted to be engaged by an upstanding cam post 100 carried by the plate 38 which is operable to move the arm 74 to the right, as taken in FIG. 4, so that the end of the arm overlying the enlarged section 66 of the pushbutton 64 is removed therefrom. Hence, the pushbutton 64 is permitted to rise to its normal position whereby the edge of the enlarged section 66 again abuts the arm 74 to prevent movement of the arm to the left.

More specifically, the post 100 includes an arcuate camming surface 102 the side edge of which engages :the depending member 98 of an operated arm 74 as the plate 38 rotates. Continued rotation of the plate 38 causes the-member 98 to ride on the arcuate surface 102 of the post 100 thereby causing the arm 74 to move to the right, as noted above. This action causes the contacts 86 and 92 to separate thereby deenergizing the motor 44 in the manner noted below.

As noted hereinabove, the projector 12 is provided with a release button 22 which must be depressed to release the magazine 14 for free rotation. Accordingly, a solenoid 104 is provided which includes a plunger 106. The solenoid is mounted on a depending wall 30 and is positioned to overly the button 22 when the housing26 is properly oriented on the projector 12. The solenoid is energized in response to the operation of any one of the connecting devices 32 whereby the plunger 106 moves downwardly to depress the button 22 thereby to release the magazine 14 for free rotation.

FIG. .6 illustrates a schematic circuit wiring diagram of the present invention. Accordingly, a source of energy 108 is connected to one terminal of the motor 44 by a lead 110. The other terminal of the motor 44 is connected by a lead 112 to a brush 114. The brush 114 rides on the plate 88. As noted above, the plate-88 is connected to the contact 86 in theconnecting devices 32 by the leads 90. Additionally, a brush 116 rides on the plate 94 which, as noted above, is connected to the contact 92 of the connecting devices 32 by the leads 96. The brush 116 is connected back to the source 108 by a lead 118. The solenoidl04 is connected in parallel with the motor 44 by the leads 120. Alternatively, the brushes 114 and 116 may be eliminated and leads ll2and 118 may be connected directly to the respective plates 88 and 94.

It is believed that the operation of the apparatus will be self-evident from a consideration of the above description. However, briefly summarizing the operation of the apparatus, the housing 26 is placed on the projector 12 with the indexing marker 34 in alignment with the indexing marker .18. At this point, it is to be noted'that the magazine 14 is to be positioned so that-the first slide is aligned with the indexing marker 18. Additionally, the pushbuttons 64 maybe provided with indicia which match the slide-indicia so that, for example, the pushbutton 64 overlying the projection station will be marked pushbutton 1 to correspond to the fact that the first slide is at the projection station. Thus, when it is desired toproject the 10th slide on the screen, theoperator need only depress the pushbutton 64 bearing the indicia 10. Moreover, the pushbuttons 64 are positioned so that they overlie a respective one of the slots 16 which receive the slides. Additionally, the plate 38 -is initially rotated so that the post 100 engages the member 98 associated with the pushbutton 64 bearing the indicia 1 for the first slide.

When the housing 26 is in place, the knob 62 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to connect the driving plate 38 withthe magazine 14 so-that they rotate as a unit. When it is desired to move a selected slide to the projection station, the button associated with that slide is depressed. For example, if it is desired to project the seventh slide on the screen, the pushbutton 64 bearing the indicia number 7 is depressed. Accordingly, the arm 74 associated with this button moves to the left thereby connecting the contacts 86 and 92 together. As will be obvious from a consideration of FIG. 6, if any one of the connecting devices 32 is operated such that the contacts 86 and 92 engage each other, the motor 44 will be energized. Accordingly, the output shaft 46 of the motor 44 begins to rotate thereby causing the plate 38 to rotate. Concomitantly therewith, the magazine 14 also begins to rotate. The post 100 will thereby rotate through seven connecting devices 32 until it engages the member 98 on the operated arm 74. Accordingly, as the plate 38 continues its rotation, the post 100 will move the operated arm 74 back to its normal position and may be projected on the screen.

It is to'be noted that concomitantly-with the energization of :the motor-44, the solenoid 104 is likewise energized thereby depressing the release button 22. Hence, at the time the motor 44 is energized, the brake mechanism of the magazine 14 is released so that the magazine may freely rotate. If it is now desired to project another slide on the screen, the pushbutton associated with that slide may be depressed. Accordingly, the plate 38 will again rotate thereby rotating the magazine 14 until the post disconnects the contacts 86 and 92 associated with the operated arm 74. Hence, the next slide will be positioned at the projection station and may be projected on the screen. 7

It will now be apparent that the apparatus 10-is operable to control the rotatable member so that any one of the slides may be positioned at the projection station without the need for manually moving the magazine or for sequentially showing the slides.

FIGS. 5 .and 5A illustrate a modified embodiment of the connecting devices 32. It is to be noted that the remaining elements of the apparatus 10 not illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 5A are identical to the construction shown in FIGS. 1-3.

The connecting device shown in FIG. 5 is designated generally by the reference numeral 122 and includes a pushbutton or depressable member 124 having an enlarged diameterbottom section 126. The upper section of the pushbutton 124 is slidably received inan opening 128 in the top wall 28 of the housing 26. The uppersection 124 is provided with a radially extending flange 130 and the bottom of the opening 128 is provided with a shelf 132. A spring 134 extends between the flange 130 and the shelf 132 and is operable to bias the pushbutton upwardly. A contact 136 is connected to the enlarged section 126 by a bracket 138. The contact 136 is connected to the plate 88 by the lead 90. Additionally, spaced below the contact .136 is a contact 140 which depends from the top wall .28 byabracket 142. The contact 140 is connected to the plate 94 by the lead 96. When'the pushbutton 124 is depressed, the contact 136 is adapted to be moved downwardly into engagement with the contact 140 thereby closing the connecting device 122 in a manner similar to the operation of the connecting devices 32.

The pushbutton 124 is maintained in the depressed position by a detent comprising a spring-loaded ball 144 which is supported by the'wall 30 of the housing. The peripheral wall of the enlarged section 126 includes an arcuate groove 146 which is adapted to receive the ball 144 therein. Thus, when the pushbutton 124 is depressed, the enlarged section engages and moves the'ball 144 rearwardly against the biasing spring 148. As the button 124 is depressed further, the spring 148 biases .the'ball 144 outwardly into the groove 146. This action maintains the pushbutton 124 in the depressed state wherein the contact 136 remains in engagement with the contact 140 thereby energizing the motor and the solenoid in the manner indicated above.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A, instead of the post 100, the plate 38 is provided with a raised arcuate cam surface 150 which is provided on a radially extending finger 152. The surface 150 is positioned to engage a similarly rounded or arcuate surface 154 on the bottom of the enlarged section 126 when the pushbutton 124 is in the depressedstate. Hence, as the plate rotates the camming surface 150 engages the surface 154 thereby causing the pushbutton 124 to ride upwardly on the camming surface. This action causes the ball 144 to move out of the groove 146 thereby permitting the pushbutton 124 to move back'to its normal position under bias of the spring 34 whereupon the contacts 136 and 140 separate. This action, in effect, disconnects the source 108 from the solenoid and the motor 44 thereby stopping the rotation of the plate '38 so that the desired slide is aligned with the projection station.

In the embodiment described above, the motor 46 is adapted to rotate the plate or disc 38 in a counterclockwise direction as taken in FIG. 2 to move the slides to the projection station. Thus, if a person is viewing slide number 5 and he then wishes to view slide number 4, he must wait until the magazine 14 makes almost a complete revolution before slide number 4 is positioned at the projection station. However, in many applications it would be desirable to be able to rotate the magazine in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction so that if a desired slide precedes the slide being viewed by a preselected amount of slides, the magazine will be rotated clockwise to quickly move the desired slide to the projection station. Accordingly, the modified embodiment shown in FIGS. -12 accomplishes this result. Identical reference characters in the figures indicate similar elements. Moreover, in the interests of clarity, portions of the apparatus have been deleted in FIGS. 10-12 such as the spider'48, etc.

Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the plate or disc 38 is provided with a radially extending flange 186 over a portion of the circumference of the peripheral wall of the disc. More specifically, the flange 186 is fabricated from an insulating material such as rubber or the like and extends over an arc of 180. One end of the flange terminates at the finger 152. Thus, in the illustrative example, the insulating flange 186 will extend over an area corresponding to the distance between 40 slides in the magazine 14.

The connecting device 188 in FIG. 11 is similar in all respects to the connecting device 122 of FIG. 5 with the exception that the bracket 138 is flexible and resilient and carries a contact 190 in addition to the contact 136. Additionally, the bracket 142 supports a contact 192 in addition to the contact 140. The contact 190 is adapted to engage the contact 192 when the pushbutton 124 is depressed.

However, the contacts 190 and 192 are sized and positioned so that the flange 186 extends therebetween when the flange is adjacent that particular pushbutton. Hence, if the pushbutton 124 is depressed at a time when the flange 186 is between the contacts 190 and 192, the contacts will not engage each other whereas the contacts 136 and 140, which are spaced beyond the edge of flange 186 will engage each other.

As shown in FIG. 11, the contact 190 is connected to the plate 88 by a lead 194. However, the contact 192 is connected to a third concentric plate 196 by a lead 198.

FIG. 12 illustrates the schematic circuit wiring diagram for the reversible embodiment of the invention. In the interest of clarity, only one connecting device has been shown, it being understood that all the connecting devices operate in a similar manner.

The motor 46 shown in FIG. 12 is a reversible two-phase capacitor-start AC motor having a winding 200 and a winding 202. More specifically, the AC source 108 is connected to contacts 138 and 190 through a lead 204. (The connecting plates 88, 94 and 196 are not shown in FIG. 12 for ease of explanation.) The contact 140 is connected to the center contact 206A of a double-pole double-throw reversing relay 206 by a lead 208. Also connected to the lead 208 by a lead 210, through a capacitor 212, is one end of the winding 200. The other end of the winding 200 is returned to the source 108 via a lead 214. Connected in parallel with the circuit comprising the capacitor 212 and winding 200 is the solenoid 104. Contacts 2068 and 206C are connected together and to the lead 214 by a lead 216. Armatures 206D and 206E are connected to the respective ends of the motor winding 202.

The armatures 206D and 206E are controlled by the relay winding 206F which is connected between contact 192 and lead 214 by a lead 218. When the winding 206F is deenergized armatures 206D and 206E engage respective contacts 206B and 206A. Accordingly, motor 46 will then drive the plate 36 in the clockwise direction. However, when the winding 206F is energized, armatures 206D and 206E engage respective contacts 206A and 206C. Accordingly, current through the winding 202 is reversed with respect to current through the 'winding 200 and the motor 46 drives the plate or disc 38 in the counterclockwise direction.

In operation, it is assumed initially that slide number 5 is at the projection station. If now the viewer wishes to observe any one of the next 40 slides (i.e., slides 6-40-6) he pushes the appropriate pushbutton 124. Accordingly, contact 136 engages contact 140 and contact 190 engages contact 192. Relay winding 206F is energized by source 108 via lead 204, contacts 190, 192, and leads 218 and 214. Hence, armatures 206D and 206E engage contacts 206A and 206C respectively. Motor winding 200 is energized via energized lead 204, contacts 136, 140, and leads 208, 210 and 214. Winding 202 is energized through energized lead 208, contact 206A and armature 206D, armature 206E and contact 206C, and leads 216 and 214. The solenoid 104 is also energized to release the magazine brake mechanism.

Accordingly, the motor 46 rotates the disc 38 in the counterclockwise direction until the operated pushbutton is disabled by the cam surface 150, in the manner indicated above.

If the viewer wanted to view any one of the slides 47 to or 1 to 4, he would again depress the appropriate pushbutton 124. However, with slide number 5 at the projection station, the flange 186 would extend between contacts 190 and 192 of each of these aforementioned pushbuttons. Hence, if any one of these pushbuttons were depressed only contacts 136 and 140 would engage each other. Solenoid 104 and winding 200 would be energized through the circuit noted above. However, relay winding 206F would remain deenergized and winding 202 would be energized through the circuit comprising energized lead 208, contact 206A and armature 206E, armature 206D and contact 2063, and leads 216 and 214 back to the source 108. Hence the motor 46 will rotate the plate 38 in the clockwise direction until the depressed pushbutton is disabled.

Accordingly, the embodiment described above provides an apparatus for randomly selecting a slide to be viewed wherein the slide is moved to the projection station in a minimum duration of time.

As noted hereinabove, the use of the apparatus 10 in conjunction with the slide mechanism was for illustrative purposes only. That is, the apparatus may be utilized in conjunction with any rotatable member which is adapted to be rotated through a plurality of positions whereby it is desired to position an element carried by the rotatable member at a particular location. Thus, FIGS. 7-9 illustrate the use of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention for converting a conventional dial telephone into a pushbuttonoperated telephone.

As shown in FIG. 7, a conventional telephone 156 includes a base 158, a handset 160 which is received in hooks 162, and a rotatable dial mechanism 164 having finger-receiving apertures 166 and a finger stop 168. The apparatus 170 adapted to be utilized in connection with the phone 156 includes a housing 172 having a top wall 174 and depending sidewalls 176. A rearwardly extending hook portion 178 is connected to the uppermost sidewall and a bottom extending hook 180 depends from the forward sidewall 176.

The apparatus 170 is mounted on the telephone by first removing the handset 160 and then positioning the apparatus substantially vertically so that the hook 180 is received beneath the bottom edge of the forward wall of the base. The apparatus is then pivoted rearwardly so that the hook portion 178 extends between the hooks 162 of the telephone. The hook 178 may be fabricated from a flexible plastic or the like and may be provided with a bent rear edge which is adapted to be engaged in a rear recess 182 of the telephone base 158.

The apparatus 170 is similar to the apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. l-4 and, accordingly, identical elements are indicated by the same reference numerals. Thus, the apparatus 170 includes a plate 38 which is rotatably mounted to the top wall 174 of the housing 172 by the shaft 40 and ball bearings 42. A post 184 depends from the bottom surface of the disc 38 and is positioned to be received in the zero aperture in the dial 164. Accordingly, clockwise rotation of the disc 38 will cause similar clockwise rotation of the dial 164. The housing 172 similarly supports the connecting devices 32 of which 10 are provided corresponding to the dialing digits in the telephone apparatus. However, the pushbuttons 64 associated with the connecting means 32 in the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9 are not in alignment with the apertures in the dial 164. To be more specific, the first pushbutton 64 which may bear the indicia l thereon corresponding to the 1 digit on the dial is aligned with the 8 digit on the dial 164. In other words, if one wishes to operate the telephone mechanism so that one pulse is dialed, the operator would depress the button overlying the eighth digit. The remainder of the pushbuttons 64 are correspondingly numbered, as shown in FIG. 7. The reason for the nonalignment in this case is due to the fact that the fingerreceiving apertures in the dial 164 are not symmetrically located about the dial but a large space exists between the first finger-receiving aperture and the stop 168. Thus, the dial 164 must be rotated through a sufficient arc to cause at least one pulse to be emitted by the telephone apparatus.

Similar to the device shown in FIGS. 1-4, a motor 44 having an output shaft 46 is provided which drives the dial 38, as shown in FIG. 9. However, the post 100 is spaced between the pushbuttons 64 bearing the l and the 0 indicia as shown in FIG. 7. As noted above, the post 100 is so positioned to permit the dial 164 to be rotated through a sufficient arc to emit a pulse when it is desired to dial the digit 1 on the telephone.

The operation of the device shown in FIGS. 7-9 will now be obvious from the above description. When a button is depressed, the connecting means 32 is operated in the manner indicated above, thereby energizing the motor 44. For example, it is assumed that the pushbutton 64 bearing the indicia 2 is depressed. Accordingly, the plate 38 will rotate. Since the post 184 is engagedin the dial 164, the dial 164 will similarly rotate. The dial 164 will rotate until the post 100 engages the arm on the connecting means 32 associated with the digit 2 and moves the arm back to its normal position thereby deenergizing the motor in the manner indicated above. In this respect, the motor 44 is provided with a one-way clutch so that the dial mechanism 164 may return the dial to its normal position whereby the plate 38 will rotate back to the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Hence, the apparatus is again set to receive the next digit and to cause operation of the telephone dial.

Since no release is required in the telephone arrangement as there is the projector 12 wherein button 22 must be depressed, no solenoid is provided. However, a lamp 186 may be provided which is connected in parallel with the motor 44 and which will be illuminated while the motor is energized to notify the operator that a digit is being dialed and that the operator is not to depress another pushbutton until the lamp has been deenergized.

Accordingly, an apparatus has been disclosed which is operable to quickly and efficiently rotate a rotatable member to a selected position out of a plurality of such positions and which is compatible for use with existing members.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and disclosed herein it will become obvious that various omissions, changes and additions may be made in such embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for moving a movable member adapted to be moved through a plurality of different positions to at least a selected one of said positions comprising driving means for engaging and moving the movable member, a control device comprising a plurality of connect means each positioned to correspond to a ditferent one of preselected ones of said plurality of different positions of said movable member and each operable to be moved from an open to a closed state to connect an energizing source with said driving means to energize said driving means, and disconnect means movable with said driving means for moving each of said plurality of connect means to the open state, said driving means comprising a plate, engaging means for removably connecting said plate to said member whereby said plate and said member move as a unit, and a motor for moving said plate when energized.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said engaging means includes a plurality of spaced depending fingers pivotally mounted on said plate, and actuating means for pivoting said fingers into engagement with said member.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said driving means is operable to drive said member in a forward and a reverse direction, each of said connect means having a first set of contacts adapted to engage each other when said connect means is in said closed state to connect said energizing source with said driving means to drive said member in said forward direction, and a second set of contacts adapted to engage each other when said connect means is in the closed state to cause said driving means to drive said member in the reverse direction, and blocking means extending over at least a portion of said driving means for preventing engagement between said second set of contacts.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said control device further comprises a housing for supporting said plurality of connect meansin overlying relationship to said driving means, each of said plurality of connect means each comprising a switch normally residing in a raised position and operable to be depressed to said closed position, and biasing means for maintaining said switch in said. closed position.

5. Apparatus as in claim4, in which each of said switches comprises a movable arm in said housing, a first contact on said arm, a second contact, said biasing means biasing said arm from a first position wherein said first and second contacts are in spaced relationship to a second position wherein said first contact engages said second contact, lead means for connecting said first and second contacts in a series loop between said driving means and the energizing source, a depressible member normally blocking movement of said arm and being operable to permit movement of said arm to the second position when depressed, and a projection extending outwardly from said arm and positioned to be engaged by said disconnect means whereby said arm is moved back to the first position.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5, in which said disconnect means comprises a cam upstanding from said driving means, and having an arcuate camming surface adapted to engage said projection to move said arm to the first position as said projection rides on said arcuate surface.

7. Apparatus as in claim 4, in which each of said switches comprises a first contact, a depressible member normally residing in a first raised position and adapted to be depressed to a second position, a second contact on said depressible member positioned to engage said first contact when said depressible member is moved to the second position, lead means for connecting said first and second contacts in a series loop between said driving means and an energizing source, said biasing means comprising a detent operable to maintain said depressable member in the second position, said disconnect means being positioned to engage said depressible member when said member is in the second position to raise said member whereby said detent releases said depressible member to return to said first position.

8. Apparatus as in claim 4, in which said member comprises a telephone dial having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures therethrough, said engaging means including a depending post engaged in one of said plurality of apertures, and said plurality of switches being in l to l correspondence with said plurality of apertures.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8, and indicating means responsive to any one of said plurality of connect means in said closed state for indicating that said one connect means is in said closed state.

10. Apparatus as in claim I, in which said motor comprises a reversible motor for driving said plate in a forward and a reverse direction, each of said connecting means including a first pair and a second pair of contacts each adapted to be closed when said connecting means is moved to the closed position, said first and second pair of contacts being operable to connect said energizing source with said motor to drive said plate in the forward direction when said first and second pair 1 l of contacts are closed and in said reverse direction when only said first pair of contacts are closed, and blocking means extending over a portion of said plate sized and positioned to be received between said second pair of contacts to prevent closure of said second pair of contacts.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10, in which said blocking means comprises an insulating member extending over half of said plate, one end of said blocking means beginning at said disconnect means.

12. Apparatus for use with a mechanism having a station, and a rotatable member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced elements therein adapted to be rotated past said station', said apparatus being operable to selectively rotate said member to position a preselected one of said elements at said station and comprising driving means for engaging and rotating said rotatable member, a control device including a plurality of connecting means in l to l correspondence with said plurality of elements each adapted to be moved from an open to a closed state to connect a source of energy with said driving means to cause rotation of said member, said control device further including a support for supporting said plurality of connecting means in spaced relationship to each other whereby each connecting means is associated with a different element, and disconnect means on said driving means sized and positioned to engage said connecting means when in the closed position to move said connecting means to the open position, said mechanism including brake means for preventing free rotation of said member when in a first position and for permitting free rotation of said member when moved to a second position, said control device further including release means responsive to movement of any one of said plurality of connecting means to the closed state for moving said brake means to the second position.

13. Apparatus as in claim 12, in which said support is operable to position said plurality of connecting means so that each one of said connecting means is aligned with a different one of said plurality of elements, each of said plurality of connecting means being movable toward said driving means whereby said connecting means is moved to the closed position, said disconnect means comprising a finger on said driving means sized to engage said connecting means when in the closed position to move said connecting means awayfrom said driving means.

14. Apparatus as in claim 12, in which said brake means comprises a depressible button, and said release means comprises an electromechanical device movable to depress said button whereby said release means is moved to the second position, said control device including lead means for connecting said electromechanical device to said connecting means whereby said source of energy is connected to said electromechanical device to energize the same when said connecting means-is moved to the closed position.

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1. Apparatus for moving a movable member adapted to be moved through a plurality of different positions to at least a selected one of said positions comprising driving means for engaging and moving the movable member, a control device comprising a plurality of connect means each positioned to correspond to a different one of preselected ones of said plurality of different positions of said movable member and each operable to be moved from an open to a closed state to connect an energizing source with said driving means to energize said driving means, and disconnect means movable with said driving means for moving each of said plurality of connect means to the open state, said driving means comprising a plate, engaging means for removably connecting said plate to said member whereby said plate and said member move as a unit, and a motor for moving said plate when energized.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said engaging means includes a plurality of spaced depending fingers pivotally mounted on said plate, and actuating means for pivoting said fingers into engagement with said member.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said driving means is operable to drive said member in a forward and a reverse direction, Each of said connect means having a first set of contacts adapted to engage each other when said connect means is in said closed state to connect said energizing source with said driving means to drive said member in said forward direction, and a second set of contacts adapted to engage each other when said connect means is in the closed state to cause said driving means to drive said member in the reverse direction, and blocking means extending over at least a portion of said driving means for preventing engagement between said second set of contacts.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said control device further comprises a housing for supporting said plurality of connect means in overlying relationship to said driving means, each of said plurality of connect means each comprising a switch normally residing in a raised position and operable to be depressed to said closed position, and biasing means for maintaining said switch in said closed position.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4, in which each of said switches comprises a movable arm in said housing, a first contact on said arm, a second contact, said biasing means biasing said arm from a first position wherein said first and second contacts are in spaced relationship to a second position wherein said first contact engages said second contact, lead means for connecting said first and second contacts in a series loop between said driving means and the energizing source, a depressible member normally blocking movement of said arm and being operable to permit movement of said arm to the second position when depressed, and a projection extending outwardly from said arm and positioned to be engaged by said disconnect means whereby said arm is moved back to the first position.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5, in which said disconnect means comprises a cam upstanding from said driving means, and having an arcuate camming surface adapted to engage said projection to move said arm to the first position as said projection rides on said arcuate surface.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 4, in which each of said switches comprises a first contact, a depressible member normally residing in a first raised position and adapted to be depressed to a second position, a second contact on said depressible member positioned to engage said first contact when said depressible member is moved to the second position, lead means for connecting said first and second contacts in a series loop between said driving means and an energizing source, said biasing means comprising a detent operable to maintain said depressable member in the second position, said disconnect means being positioned to engage said depressible member when said member is in the second position to raise said member whereby said detent releases said depressible member to return to said first position.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 4, in which said member comprises a telephone dial having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures therethrough, said engaging means including a depending post engaged in one of said plurality of apertures, and said plurality of switches being in 1 to 1 correspondence with said plurality of apertures.
 9. Apparatus as in claim 8, and indicating means responsive to any one of said plurality of connect means in said closed state for indicating that said one connect means is in said closed state.
 10. Apparatus as in claim 1, in which said motor comprises a reversible motor for driving said plate in a forward and a reverse direction, each of said connecting means including a first pair and a second pair of contacts each adapted to be closed when said connecting means is moved to the closed position, said first and second pair of contacts being operable to connect said energizing source with said motor to drive said plate in the forward direction when said first and second pair of contacts are closed and in said reverse direction when only said first pair of contacts are closed, and blocking means extending over a portion of said plate sized and positioned to be received between said second pair of contacts to prevent closure of said second pair of contacts.
 11. Apparatus as in claim 10, in which said blocking means comprises an insulating member extending over half of said plate, one end of said blocking means beginning at said disconnect means.
 12. Apparatus for use with a mechanism having a station, and a rotatable member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced elements therein adapted to be rotated past said station; said apparatus being operable to selectively rotate said member to position a preselected one of said elements at said station and comprising driving means for engaging and rotating said rotatable member, a control device including a plurality of connecting means in 1 to 1 correspondence with said plurality of elements each adapted to be moved from an open to a closed state to connect a source of energy with said driving means to cause rotation of said member, said control device further including a support for supporting said plurality of connecting means in spaced relationship to each other whereby each connecting means is associated with a different element, and disconnect means on said driving means sized and positioned to engage said connecting means when in the closed position to move said connecting means to the open position, said mechanism including brake means for preventing free rotation of said member when in a first position and for permitting free rotation of said member when moved to a second position, said control device further including release means responsive to movement of any one of said plurality of connecting means to the closed state for moving said brake means to the second position.
 13. Apparatus as in claim 12, in which said support is operable to position said plurality of connecting means so that each one of said connecting means is aligned with a different one of said plurality of elements, each of said plurality of connecting means being movable toward said driving means whereby said connecting means is moved to the closed position, said disconnect means comprising a finger on said driving means sized to engage said connecting means when in the closed position to move said connecting means away from said driving means.
 14. Apparatus as in claim 12, in which said brake means comprises a depressible button, and said release means comprises an electromechanical device movable to depress said button whereby said release means is moved to the second position, said control device including lead means for connecting said electromechanical device to said connecting means whereby said source of energy is connected to said electromechanical device to energize the same when said connecting means is moved to the closed position. 